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 ESPN and ESPN2 combined to televise 23 college football bowl games and averaged 2,810,000 homes (based on a 2.5 U.S. rating), an increase of eight percent over last season. In 2007-08, the networks combined for an average of 2,596,000 homes for 21 bowl games (based on a 2.3 U.S. rating).
Highlights (all ratings are coverage area – ESPN or ESPN2 universe): - On Saturday, Dec. 27, the Champs Sports Bowl delivered ESPN’s second-largest bowl audience ever. Florida State’s 42-13 victory over Wisconsin averaged 5,098,000 homes, based on a 5.2 rating. (ESPN’s most-watched bowl game ever was the Alamo Bowl on December, 30, 2006, between Iowa and Texas. It was watched by an average of 5,521,000 homes, based on a 6.0 rating.)
- ESPN “won the night” December 27 among all TV networks (broadcast or cable) by averaging 4,535,000 homes (as well as viewers; People 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54; and Men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54) based on a 4.6 rating for the Emerald Bowl. California defeated Miami 24-17.
On two other nights, ESPN led all networks in male viewers 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. On Monday, Dec. 29, ESPN televised the Valero Alamo Bowl, which earned a 4.6 rating for Missouri’s 30-23 overtime victory over Northwestern. On Tuesday, Dec. 30, ESPN televised the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, which earned a 4.6 rating for Oregon’s 42-31 win over Oklahoma State. Overall, ESPN’s 21 games averaged 2,920,000 homes, up two percent from 2,866,000 for 17 contests a year ago (both based on a 3.0 rating). ESPN2 averaged 1,663,000 homes (based on a 1.7 rating) for two games, up 11 percent from 1,502,000 for game bowl games last season (1.6 rating). Local highlights: (In all cases, historical records go back to 2000, except 2001 for Ft. Myers) Meineke Car Care Bowl (Dec. 27, West Virginia vs. North Carolina: averaged a 10.5 rating on ESPN in Charlotte, the highest-rated bowl there ever on ESPN or ESPN2. Champs Sports Bowl (Dec. 27, Florida State vs. Wisconsin): averaged an 11.6 rating on ESPN in Ft. Myers, the highest-rated bowl there on ESPN or ESPN2 ever. The game averaged a 10.4 rating on ESPN in West Palm Beach, the highest-rated bowl there ever on ESPN or ESPN2. Emerald Bowl (Dec. 27, California vs. Miami): averaged a 5.0 rating on ESPN in Sacramento, the highest-rated bowl there ever on ESPN or ESPN2. Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl (Dec. 30, Maryland vs. Nevada): averaged a 5.8 rating on ESPN in Baltimore, the highest cable ranking in that market in December, with the exception of four ESPN Monday Night Football games. Chick-Fil-A Bowl (Dec. 31, Georgia Tech vs. LSU): averaged a 17.3 rating on ESPN in New Orleans, the highest-rated bowl there ever on ESPN or ESPN2. International Bowl (Jan. 3, Buffalo vs. Connecticut): averaged a 16.5 rating on ESPN2 in Buffalo, the highest-rated bowl there ever on ESPN or ESPN2. Source: ESPN
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